Hector Santiago provided stability Thursday night to a White Sox pitching staff that will lose Gavin Floyd for an extended period because of a tear in his right flexor muscle but soon could receive the services of John Danks.

Santiago, who started after Jake Peavy was scratched because of back spasms, pitched 51/3 innings of two-hit ball and Tyler Flowers cranked a three-run homer to vault the Sox to a 3-1 victory over the Rangers.

Santiago's clutch performance came after Floyd confirmed the tear and that his ulnar collateral ligament is unstable.

Orthopedic surgeon David Altchek will examine Floyd, who injured his elbow Saturday, on examined Monday in New York. He has treated the arm injuries of former Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez and Carl Pavano.

"There are options (instead) of surgery," Floyd said after the Sox's victory. "There are options of rehab. And everything like that. We just have to weigh the options and see what happens."

Floyd said Rangers team surgeon Keith Meister confirmed the tear in Arlington shortly after the Sox arrived Monday night.

"We'll wait until the last doctor so I can think about it, pray about it and take it from there," Floyd said.

While Santiago struck out six and walked only two in a 92-pitch effort, Danks threw seven-innings of five hit ball for Double-A Birmingham against Chattanooga in his first minor league rehabilitation start.

The most encouraging aspect regarding Danks, who had left shoulder surgery on Aug. 6, 2012, was that his fastball was clocked as fast as 91 mph.